Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 20, 1932. L 1,891,231

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 30. 1929 50 50 43 v *i; 42 4/ 52 J 8 40 t 54 li ntenteel 2th 1 earn HARRY E. HULL, GE DAYTGN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO FRIG-IDAIRE CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPQRATION OF DELAWARE EEFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application i'lled Kay 80, 1929. SeriatNo. 367,168.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide a refrigerating system adapted to refrigerate a plurality of cabinets or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a refrigerating system adapted to utilize any low prevailing temperatures in the atmosphere outside of the building or the like,

Another object of this invention is to provide an individual temperature control for each of a plurality of evaporators connected to a central refrigeratin system.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide a plurality of cabinets with a'novel refrigerating system.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

' In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section- :11 view of an evaporator which may be used in the system; and

Pi 3 is a view similar to Fig.2 of a modihad form of evaporator.

25. The refrigerant liquefying unit may be any suitable automatic type, either of the compression or of the absorption type. If it is of the compression type it may include a compressor 26, a motor 27, a condenser, not shown, which discharges liquid refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant receiver 28. The

motor 27 may be started-and stopped by means of a snap switch 29 responsive to the temperatures in the refrigerating system, for instance, by connecting an expansible bellows of the snap switch through the pipe 30 with the section 25. The snap switch 29 starts the motor when the refrigerant in the evaporator 21 reaches a predetermined high temperature and stops the motor when the refrigerant drops to a predetermined low temperature. 69 The evaporator 21 may be of any suitable float valve controlled type, for instance, of the type shown in Fig. 3 and more fully described in the patentto R. G. Osborn, No. 1,556,708, dated October 13, 1925.

The heat transfer receptacle 20 may be any suitable means for promoting the transfer of heat. Thus it may include a brine tank 31 adapted to be filled with any suitable nonfreezing liquid such as calcium chloride brine 70 or a solution of alcohol. The brine tank may i be provided with insulation 32 which may extend along all sides, top and bottom of the tank as indicated by the dotted lines, or it may be provided with a removable insulation portion which may be removed when the temperature of the atmosphere is suficiently low as during the winter time. The insulation may thus be placed on the tank during the summer time and may be removed during the winter time when the temperature of the atmosphere is sufiiciently low.

The heat transfer receptacle may also be provided with automatic means for placing it in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls any desired amount below the predetermined low temperature limit maintained by the automatic refrigerating system. This may be accomplished by placing a suitable evaporator 33in the brine tank and this evaporator may be connected to a condenser 34 placed, preferably above the level of the evaporator 33. The evaporator 33 and the condenser 34 maybe filled with a suitable volatile refrigerant adapted to condense in the condenser 34 only when the atmospheric temperature falls below the desired limit. Thus when the atmosphere is sufiiciently cold the volatile refrigerant in the evaporator 33 flows to the condenser 34 in a gaseous form and returns in a liquid form. This action automatically establishes thermal contact between the heat transfer receptacle 20 and the atmosphere when the atmospheric temperature is sufficiently low.

The heat transfer receptacle 20 may be provided with a heat transfer system leading to one or a plurality of spaces to be refrigerated, which may be, for instance, cabinets 40 or cabinets 41. The heat transfer system may include one or more evaporators 42 or 43. A

suitable connection may be provided between each of the evaporators and the heat transfer receptacle. This may include one or more condensers 44 or 45. The evaporators 42, which may be constructed as shown in Fig. 3 and as more fully described in the said patent to R. G. Osborn, may be connected to the condenser 44 by any suitable connection as by a liquid refrigerant line 46 and an evaporator refrigerant line 47. The line 46 may be provided with branches 48 connected to the float controlled valve 49. The line 47 may be connected by branches 50 with the evaporators 42 and preferably at the outlet 51 in the evaporator.

The evaporators 42 may be provided with means for maintaining independent temperatures in said evaporators. Thus automatic adjustable regulating valves 50a may be con- ,nected to the refrigerant outlets of the evaporators. These valves may be made to mamtain a suitable pressure within the evaporators 42 and may be provided with easily accessible regulating means for varying the desired pressure. These valves may be constructed, for instance, in the same manner as disclosed in the application of Ernest Dickey, Serial No. 349,796, filed March 25, 1929.

The cabinets 41 may be provided wlth evaporators 43 which may be individually connected to the heat transfer receptacle 20. Thus each evaporator 43 may be connected to a refrigerant ine 51 leading to one or more condensers 45 in the heat transfer receptacle. A suitable volatile refrigerant is placed in the evaporators 42-43 and this refrigerant rises in a gaseous phase to the condenser and then flows back into liquid phase to the evaporators where it is re-evaporated. The temperature of the cabinet 41 may be individually controlled by means of a manually operated bafile plate 52 adapted to close the opening 53 in the lining 54 forming the cooling unit compartment. All of the evaporators may be provided with suitable ice tray sleeves placed within the coils 55 in the well-known manner. The closing of the bafile 52 causes the freezing action in the ice tray sleeves to be increased because of the reduced air circulation over the sleeves.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preus ferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for automatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, means enclosing a space to.be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from said space to said receptacle.

2. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for automatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, means enclosing a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from said space to said receptacle, said heat transfer system including an evaporator containing a volatile refrigerant, a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle and a connection between said evaporator and condenser.

33. A refrigerating systemincluding a heat transfer receptacle, :1 refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for automatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact withtheatmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, means enclosing a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from said space to said receptacle, said heat transfer system including an evaporator containing a volatile refrigerant. a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle and a connection between said evaporator and condenser, said connection including a liquid refrigerant line and an evaporated refrigerant line.

4. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said rece tacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for antomatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, means enclosing a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from said space to said receptacle, said heat transfer system including an evaporator containing a volatile refrigerant, a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle and a connection between said evaporator and condenser, said connection including a liquid refrigerant line and an evaporated refrigerant line, and an automatic pressure regulating valve in one of said lines.

5. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for automatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, means enclosing a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from said space to said receptacle said heat transfer system including an evaporator containing a volatile refrigerant, a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle and a connection between said evaporator and condenser, said connection including a liquid refrigerant line and an evaporated refrigerant line, and an automatic pressure regulating valve in one of said lines, and a float controlled valve in said evaporator connected to the other of said lines.

6. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining saidreceptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for automatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, a plurality of cabinets each having a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from each of said spaces to said receptacle.

7. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means forautomatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, a plurality of cabinets each having a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from each of said spaces to said receptacle, said heat transfer system including an evaporator in each of said spaces containing a volatile refrigerant,

a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle,

anda connection between each of said evaporators and said condenser.

8. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, :1 refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a 'pre-' determined temperature limit, means for antomatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, a plurality of cabinets each having a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer systemfrom each of said spaces to saidreceptacle, said heat transfer,

system including an evaporator in each of said spaces containing a volatile refrigerant, a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle, and a connection between each of said evaporators and said condenser, said connections including a liquid refrigerant line and an evaporated refrigerant line.

9. A refrigerating'system includinga heat I transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for,

automatically placing said receptacle thermal contact with the atmospherewhen the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, a plurality of cab inetseach having a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from each of said system including an evaporator in each of said spaces containing a volatile refrigerant, a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle, and a connection betweeneach of said evaporators and said condenser, said connections including a liquid refrigerant'line and an evaporated refrigerant line, and an automatic adjustable regulating valve for each of said evaporators in one of said lines.

10. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for automatically placing said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, a plurality of cabinets each having a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from each of said spaces to said receptacle, said heat transfer system including an evaporator in each of said spaces containing a volatile refrigerant, a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle, and a connection between each of said evaporators and said condenser, said connections including a liquid refrigerant line and an evaporated refrigerant line, and an automatic adjustable regulating valve for each of said evaporators intone of said lines, and a float controlled valve in each of said evaporators connected to the other of said lines.

11. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, cooling means for refrigerating said receptacle, heat absorbing means for refrigerating said receptacle and a heat dissipating means, said heat absorbing and the atmosphere for condensing the gaseous refrigerant vaporized in the evaporator when the temperature of the atmosphere is below the temperature maintained by said cooling means.

13. A refrigerating system including a heat transfer receptacle, a refrigerating apparatus for maintaining said receptacle below a predetermined temperature limit, means for spaces tosaid receptacle, said heat transfer I automatically placing'said receptacle in thermal contact with the atmosphere when the temperature of the atmosphere falls below said predetermined limit, means enclosing a space to be refrigerated and a heat transfer system from said space to said receptacle, said heat transfer system including an evaporator containing a volatile refrigerant, a condenser in said heat transfer receptacle and a connection between said evaporator and condenser, and an automatic pressure regulating valve in said connection.

In testimony whereof I hereto aifix my signature.

HARRY B. HULL. 

